In this festival, water is boiled in a kettle placed at the festival site, and throughout the night, various dances, including those of demons, are performed as a prayer for the renewal of the earth.

The Hana (Flower) Matsuri is a festival held during the cold months from November to January across the Okumikawa region, where Aichi, Nagano, and Shizuoka Prefectures meet. At the center of the performance space, a cauldron is set up to boil water, and a fire is continuously stoked beneath it. Around this steaming cauldron, children, young people, and dancers wearing various demon masks perform ritual dances throughout the night.

In all of the dances, performers strongly stamp the ground, and the entire venue becomes energized as the audience chants "Tēhohe, Tehohe” in unison around the dancers. It is said that the festival was introduced by ascetic monks during the Kamakura to Muromachi periods. The dances include ritualistic gestures that seem to awaken the spirits of the earth, evoking a sense of "rebirth” as the spirits, which have sunk into the ground during the depths of winter, are brought back to life.

During the final ritual, known as "Yubayashi,” hot water is sprinkled, and it is believed that those who are bathed in it will enjoy good health for the coming year. Both performers and spectators share in the excitement of this moment. Often described as "sleepy, smoky, and cold,” the Hana Matsuri is a winter festival that is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime.

Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government.